Cash-register.



G. PALMER. n. mumm, nnomvna 11 LUNAGY or sun PALMER.

CASH REGISTER. I APYLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1910.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

, gvgmon '1 um)... film Wag $58858.

G. PALMER.

1;. 1231mm, RECEIVER m LURAOY or sAinuLnn. CASH REGISTER.

I APPLICATION FILED 811F126, 1910.

Patented Sept. 9, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: llwmrgfl I g l dwmm. hm e h h UNET D sTAI'rEs PATENT orricn oneness runes, or cannons, ENGLAND, BY seesaw: Bureau} or LONDON, hive- LAND, RECEIVER IN LUNACY OF SAID PALMER, Jess ca-on r0 GEORGE WILL AM man-seem oneness RUN'DLE resins, secret or Loreen, ENGLAND,

case-anemone.

' page 355,) who has invented certain new'and useful Improvements in vCash-Regi'sters, of which I declare the following'to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates. to cash rmist'e'rs and has more particular relation to indicating' and printing mechanisms for the same.

The invention has been shown as ap lied to'a cash register ofth'e type shown and described in Letters Patent. of the United States issued to Thomas Carney on Septemher 6th, 1892, and numbered 482,161, but it will readily be seenthat the invention may equally as well be applied to any other dorm of cash registering machines. lama-1 chines of this type it is customary to provide a plurality of operating keys representing different amounts, which keys when de pressed serve to enter upon asuitable registering mechanism the amount of the transaction. It has also been customary to provide a recording mechanism wherebya detail record may be kept of each sale for the purpose of verification. It is often found desirable to provide means whereby such. detail records may be' identified with some particdlar class of transaction, department, or

clerk making the sale. r

The primal; object of the invention is to provide suitab e means for identifying each sale with the particular class of transaction,

department, or clerk and the present embo'diment, is shown as used for three clerks.

Another object is to provide suitable indicating mechanism whereby an identifying mark of the clerk handling the transact-ion will be exhibited to the customer. 9 A further object is to provide suitable 2 locking mechanism whereby an operation of t-hemachine in the absence of an operation of one of the clerks keys is' prevented Specification of Letters Patent. 2 7 Application filed September 26, sm. Serial With' these and incidental objects-in view,

. the invention consists in certain novel fea- Patented Sept: 9, 1913;

7 tures of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set.

forth in appended claims, and a preferred form of embodiment ofwhich is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form part of the specification. I 7 1 Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of the machine shown in t lle Carney patent with the present improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the-Opel a-ting cam for disablingthelatoh for holding the indicating and printing mechanisms in adjusted position. Fig. 3 is a front plan view of the improved mechanism also I showing the connections from the registerin'g mechanism to the printing mechanism. Fig. 4 is a detail View of the three clerks keys. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the detent plate forholding thekeys in depressed position. Fig. 6 is a detail of the auxiliary lccking detent plate. Fig. Zis a detail View of the cam plate disabling the latch device for the operating mechanism.

The operation of. the machine to which the present improvements are applied is substantially the same as that shown and de scribed .in the above' mentioned Letters Patent but for convenience may be briefly described as follows: Referring to Fig. lthe machine comprises a series of ,operating keys 20 pivotally mounted on a transverse rod21 hung between the side-frames 22. Each key 20 is adapted when operated to raise and lower a main operating or key coupler mechanism 23 of well known form. The key coupler 23 is pivotally mounted in the side frame 22 and extends across the machine abov all of the keys 20 just to the rear of thecross rod 21. The coupler 23 is provided at 'one end with a pin 24 projecting into a transverse slot 25" formed in a vertical bar 26 and through the medium of this conned 'tion is adapted to raise and lower said bar- 26 at each operation of a key 20. Bar 26 is guided ini-ts movement by a stud 27 mounted on main frame 22 and projecting into a slot 28 formed in the lower end of. said her 26. At its upper end the bar 26 is formed with oppositely facing racks 29 and 30 which alternately engage a pinion 31 mounted on a transverse shaft 82. Rack arm 29 18 provided with a lug 83 which is arranged to flag 36, of well known form and adapted to indicate we the amount registered at an operation of its appropriate keys At an operation ate flag 36 will be raised and held in such raised position and expose to view through a sight opening'in the cabinet (not' shown) the numerals carried thereby. Each of the keys 20 is further provided with an upwardly extending operating arm 37 pivoted to said key at 38 and having at its upward end a notch 39 adapted to engage and operate a registering frame 40 pivotally mounted upon across rod 41 hung between the side frames 22 of the machine. This method of'operating the registering frame is old and well known in the art, and it is also well known that the keys representingdiiferent amounts are provided with' arms 37 having thenotches 39 graduated to engage the frame 40 at different periods the regular operation of the machine, so as to give said fname 40 a differential opera-' tion dependent upon the particular key operated. Suitable registering mechanism is generally provided, which mechanism may be automatically thrown into and out of engagement with-the segments 42 carried by said registering frame 40, so as to. record on said register the amount represented by' the key 29 which has been operated.

Mounted besidethe amount keys 20 at one end of the machine are three depressible clerks keys 43 normally spring pressed to-.

ward their outwardposition by springs 44 interposed between the frame of the machine and pins 45 carried by said keys. Pins 45 are further adapted to cooperate with a detent plate 46 v(Fig. 5) of well known form, which plate 46 'is arranged to lock the keys 43 in depressed position. An auxiliary detent plate 47 (Fig. 6) is provided, said plate being arranged to coiiperate with notches 48 formed in the upper-edges of the keys 43 ('see Fig. 4) to lock'said keys when partially depressed, thereby preventing the withdrawal of the keys after a partial de-- pression of the same has been made. Plates 46 and 47' are pivoted at their upper ends to a lever 49 which lever 49 is centrally pivotedat 50 to a standard 51 mounted on the frame of the machine. Therear end of lever 49 normally extends under and in the path of oldand of one of the keys 20 its appropri a cam 52 vcarried by the shaft 32 and at the end of each operation of the .machine said cam 52 is adapted to engage the lever 49 thereby to raise the forward end of said lever and consequently disengage said plates 46 and 47 from the depressed-key 43, thereby permitting said key to assume its normal outward position under the action of its spring 44. When either of the two upper keys'43 is depressed the rear end of said ke is adapted to engage the appropriate oneo the graduated steps 53' of a differential plate 54 pivotallymountedat 55 on the main frame of themachine, the purpose of the graduated steps being to permit of a graduated movement being given to said differential plate 54. This-plate is provided with an upwardly extending arm 55*, which arm carries a pin 56 projecting into a bifurcation 57 formed in an arm 58- pivotally mounted .on a stud 59 and rigidly connected to a.

bevel pinion 60. The bevel pinion 60 is constantly in mesh with a companion bevel pinion '61 rigidly mounted on a rock shaft 62, which rock, shaft has rigidly mounted thereon two upwardly extending'levers 63 T bifurcated at their upper ends to straddlepins 64 carried by a pair of sliding v indicatorplates 65, one located, at the front and the other at the rear of the machine. 'These indicator plates 65 are adapted to slide in frames 66 located just below the point at which the flags 36 are exposed, and said plates 65 bear suitable letters 67 adaptedto represent the various clerks using the machine. The plate 65 is adapted "to be given any one of three positions of adjustment, and when in any one of such positions is adapted to 'ex-.

hibit at a -sight opening 68 formed in the frames 66,'the letter appropriate to the key 43 which is depressed.

The. lowermost key 43, when depressed, will not engage the differential plate 54 and said plate54 is held in its position of rest by a spring 55*. When in such position a pin 56 carried by said plate 54 will rest aga nst the. main frame of' the machine. For convenience the letter' D isassigned to the lowermost key 43, and when said key isdepressed the plate 54 will remain in normal position and the letter D on sliding indicator plate 65 will be exhibited at the sight opening 68. When the uppermost key 43 is depressed the rear end of said key will engage the upper one of the two graduated steps 53, and will rock the plate 54 to an extent sufficient to rock arm 58 and conse quently to be exposed at the sightopening 68.- If the middle key 43 is depressed, the rear end of said key will engage the lower graduated step 53 and thereby give said differential shaft 62 and arm 63, thereby to slide said plate 65 laterally to the left in, Fig. 3 to brlng. the letter A to a position P a s. grseten hr w. o move the P at (SQ-laterally to an, extent Suflicient togbring the letter R to. position to. be exposed at the I sight opening; 68.

Inorder to-.maintain theindica tor plate 65 in. adjusted. position between operations 01? the. maehine, the plate 54. is. provided. with a locking arm 69- proui-dedwith locking notches70 cooperating with a lock ng pawl 71 pivotedv at 72, tothe fraine-22, and having n.- upwardly extending. lug 73 projecting; intothe path of an, arm, 74 piifzoted at 75 to the frame 22; and. rigidly connectedto. a downwardly extending arm 76. The arm, 76 is bifurcated atits lower end. to straddle a pin 77 carried bye.v sliding plate 78-,which at its forward end; isadapted= to slide on a frame of the machine-and. at its rear end is.

bifurcated to straddle the rotation, shaft 32. The plate 78carries an anti-friction roller 79. which normally stands in the path of a cam 80. (see Figs. 1 and 2)v rigidly mounted on rotation shaft 32. At the beginning 036 each operation of. the machine said cam 80- will engage the anti-friction roller 79 and: thereby move the plate 78 torock the arm '7 6 and consequently the arm. 74 and lug. 73,'

thereby to disengage the locking pawl; 71

- ot a previously depressed; key. If the mid-- from. the locking notches 70. In this mannerthe diiferential plate 54 is released to permit it to move toward normal position-under the action ofitsspring provided saidplate 54 is not then. resting against the rear end dle key 43- had. been depressed on a. previous. operation, it will readily. be seen, that the plate 54 will have been rockedrearward to.

an extent suflicient to cause the arm 69 to clear the lockingv pawl 71, and said pawl will have droppeddown. in front oi said arm, 69.

thereby holding Said-plate 54 and indicator plate (55, in a position; toindieate the letter B.- If the middle or '13- key is again depressed upon a succeeding operationofi the machine, it will readily be seen that when the locking pawl 71 is. disengaged f-romthe arm (39- at the beginning of said. succeeding operation, the plate 54 vwill not be permitted to. move toward normal position as the lowstrikes the rear end of said uppermost key 43.- If the lowermost key is depressed upon" the succeedingoperation of the machine, the

ermcst graduated step 53 will; already be resting against therear end of said middle. key 43. 1f, however, the uppermost key 43 is tlepressed, the plate 54 will, when the pawl-71 is disengaged from thearm 6t), be permitted to moyo toward. normalpos tron until the uppermostgraduatedi step. 53

plate 54 willthen'be permitted. to drop all the way back'toward normal position untilthe pin 56" strikes the frame-of the machine.

. -ln orderto adjust a printing element to a position correspondi g to. the position of adjustment given to. the indicatorplate 65,,

which- Pinion 82- isfcarr-iedby a. sleeve 83 printing line simultaneously withfthe a,djustment at e r pon ng: e te i? the indicator ing 68.

In order to prevent an; operation of the. machine without first, depressing -1 p ate 85.which isadaptedtoslide in a guide.

and isproyided with three cam. slots 93.

o;E said keys. 43. is depressed its pin 45v will;

a urther depression oi said key will; raise thereby to. earn the plate 85, rearward, thereby disengagingthe notch 88 from the flange 89-01? the key coupler 23, to. permit of an operation Oif any one of. the keys 20. It will, readily beseen that until. one of the keys 4,3; is depressed. the plate 85. will be maintained.

thereby absolutely preventing an. operation pressing a key 43.

desirable to have the order of the type printmg elements arranged so as tovprint the order. In machines of the type to which the present improvements have been applied ii; i generally found that the type are. so

printed upside down and the items thereon cannot be read at the front of the machine. In Fig. 3 connections haNe been shown between the registering segments 42 and, the printing elements of the printing mechaism, whereby-a r versaL of said printing elements .is. obtained, so as to cause a printingo t the" detail recordin proper order so time through any suitable sight openlng which may be provided In, the cabinet ofthe machine. This method, however, of reversplate behind the sight open;

. ne a he ke s 43, there is provided a sh ng locking.

way 86, anda slot LEO IHIGdj in a rear guideranged. to slide beside the detent plate 46,

said plate 92 to cause the pin 91 carried in nsl rnrlal locking position by spring 94,

of any one of the keys 20 without first d-e- In machines ofithis type it has been found i tha the rec d.- mi yf exa d. a a y.

ing, the order ostprignting elements. is old: ndwe l k own n' he r and a; d el e the plate 54, is provided with a, segment 81; constantly in engagement with a pinion. 82

having; a printing e1ement84 rigidly mountn its out r nd. The yp is o. arranged; on said printing element. 84. that when akey- '43; is depressed a letterwill be broughttotheeach; of; which, is adapted-.togcooperate with. v the pin-450m, oneof the keys43. When one.

en age its appropriate cam slot 93. and-upon; I

. detail items on the record strip in proper arranged that the detail record strip. is

description of the samewill not be given herein. v,

The general operation of the improvedmachine is as follows: Before any one of the amount keys 20 representing the amount of the transaction-may be depressed, it is necessary to depress the key 43 appropriated to the-clerk making the sale. The depression of said appropriated key 43 will result in an adjustment of the indicator plate 65 to exhibit at the sight opening 68 the ,initial corresponding to the key 43 which has been depressed. Simultaneously with the adjustment of the said indicator plate, an adjustment of the printing element 84 will be obtained, whereby to bring the proper printing type toprinting line, so that the letter appropriate to the operator may be printed upon the record strip beside a detailed record of the transaction. Upon thefull depression of the key 43, the locking plate 85 will be moved to unlock the key coupler 23 and any one of the 'keys 20 may then be depressed Upon the com- .pletion of the operation of the keys 20, the depressed keys .43 will be released and the indicator 65 and the printing element 84 v will be locked in adjusted position, thereby exhibiting the appropriate letter on said indicator plate at the sight opening 68 so as to identify the indication represented by the raised indicator flags 36 with some partlcular clerk or operator.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfil the objects primarily stated it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described as" it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is. claimed is:

1. In a cash register, the combination with vertically adjustable amount indicators and keys for setting the same, of a laterally shiftable indicating mechanism having a plurality of indicating positions, a series of clerks, keys, and means diflerentially controlled by said clerks keys for shifting said indicator to itsvarious indieating positions.

2. In a cash register, the combination with a main operating mechanism, of 'a laterally shiftable indicating mechanism having a plurality of indicating positions, a series of keys, means differentially controlled by said keys for shifting said indicator to its various indicating positions, and means for looking said operating mechanism until one of said keyshas been operated.

3. Inia cash register, the combination with a mainioperating mechanism, of a laterally shiftable indicating mechanism having --a plurality of indicating positions, a series of erally movable indicator differentially ad-,

justed under the control of said special keys, devices for latching the special indicator in its adjustedposition, means normally lookin the amount keys from operation, mechamsm actuated by the special keys for disabling said locking means, a detent for latching the special keys in depressed positions, and means actuated by the amount keys for operating the latching devices for the special indicator and the latching detent for the special keys.-

5. In a cash register, the combination with,

a plurality of amount keys, of a key coupler actuated thereby, a series of special keys and locking means controlled by the depression of one of said special keys for normally looking said key coupler against movement, said locking means comprising a sliding plate having a locking notch normally engaging said coupler, and a cam plate actuated by the depression of any one of said special keys for moving the sliding plate to disengage said notch from the coupler.

6. In a cash register, the combination with aplurality of amount keys, of a key coupler actuated thereby, a series of special keys and locking means controlled by the depression of one of said special keys for normally locking said key coupler against movement, said locking means comprising a sliding plate having a locking notch normally engaging said coupler and a camming edge, a cam plate actuated by the dGPIBSSlOIl of any one of said special keys and carrying a pin for engaging said camming edge to move the sliding plate to disengage its notch from the coupler.

7. In a machine of the class described,

the combination with a plurality of amount keys, of means normally locking said keys, a

series of depressible special keys, mechanism controlled by the latter keys for operating the locking means for the amount keys, independent devices for, latching the special keys in their partially depressed and in their fully depressed ositions, and operatin means for said atching devices actuate upon the operation of any of the amount keys. t

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a plurality of amount keys, of a movable member common thereto, devices actuated upon the operation of any 10 means normally locking said member and of the amount keys.

v the special keys in their partially depressed Witnesses:

therebythe amount keys,aseries of depressi- In witness whereof I have signed this ble special keys, mechanism actuated by the specification in the presence of two witnesses. latter keys for operating the aforesaid lock- ROBERT BRIDEN,

ing means, independent devices for latching Receiver in lunacy of Charles Pahner.

and in their fully depressed positions, and a A. J. HADooN, common operating means for said latching A. E. HATHAWAY. 

